A man with a disability is facing significant hardships after his monthly social welfare payments were unexpectedly halted due to his family’s modest income from selling fruits. This critical issue was brought to light during a recent workshop organized by Aruka Fiji, which gathered government officials and various stakeholders to discuss the challenges faced by vulnerable populations and the assistance available to them.
Mereseni Rawaqa, a workshop participant, highlighted the distress caused by the cessation of the man’s welfare payments, noting, “This person is disabled. He used to receive monthly financial assistance, but it was suddenly stopped.” Rawaqa explained that officials from the Social Welfare Department informed the family that their welfare payments were discontinued because of the income generated from their small-scale fruit sales.
The income derived from selling fruits, such as pawpaw and bananas, is notably insufficient, earning the family approximately $20 to $40 on a good day. Rawaqa emphasized that this amount falls short of meeting the family’s basic needs. In an effort to support the man, she is working to help him pursue education or new skills by assisting him with enrollment at a local center.
Josefa Banivalu, a welfare officer from the Ministry of Social Protection, addressed these concerns by clarifying that the financial assistance is intended for the individual with a disability, rather than the family as a whole. “This assistance is for the individual. If there is an issue, the family can come to our office, and we will look into why the payments were stopped,” he stated, highlighting the importance of direct communication with the ministry in resolving such issues.
Ensuring that vulnerable individuals, especially those with disabilities, receive adequate support is crucial. The ongoing dialogue about welfare assistance sheds light on the need for improved communication and understanding between social support systems and the families they serve. Addressing these challenges opens up the possibility for better solutions that can more effectively support those in need.